6 Some of the children shewed fear. I have often heard the fathers and mothers say to their children when it thundered, Go and pray, for GOD is angry. To preserve my pupils from these false ideas, I called them together, on our return, and read to them the 297th hymn of the Zurich collection. I shewed to them, that GOD never ceased to be good; I explained to them the advantage of storms; I told them what was properly lightning and thunder; that the wicked only could fear them, but that the good took occasion to render thanks, and to praise GOD for them." A circumstance which it is impossible to observe without satisfaction, is the spirit of concord which unites them. They love, they mutually aid each other: they know no disputes; the strongest instruct and protect the weak. When any one of them happened to be sick, all wished to serve him, all shewed their solicitude for his recovery. They are just, moderate, disposed for charity and mutual support; their morality is in harmony with the religious spirit which inspires them, the habits which are given to them, and the examples with which they are surrounded. The inhabitants of Hofwyl, to the number of about a hundred and fifty individuals, form a well-ordered society, in which every individual, animated by the spirit of the leader, labours incessantly at the common good. All that strikes the view of the children speaks to them of order, of industry, and activity. The objects of benevolence and affection to all that surrounds them, they feel themselves exalted in their own eyes-they experience the sentiment of gratitude-they attempt to merit, by good conduct, the happiness which they are made to enjoy. This happiness of the pupils shews itself in their looks, whether they labour in the fields, or listen to instruc-. tion, or take their meals; they are habitually serene. They give themselves up at play to a turbulent gaiety, restrained in nothing by the dread of a master, who makes himself their equal; nor in this gaiety does there ever mingle a single act or word that is indecent or reprehensible. When amid these noisy scenes, the voice of their chief is heard calling to them, "Come, my children, it is enough,' the game ceases; silence succeeds; and all follow him without a mur mur. Such are the principal means by which Vehrli, that Christian philosopher of twenty-four, has put in prac tice the whole system of M. de Fellenberg-has combined his theory of punishments, rewards, encouragements, habits, precepts, example, labour, and amusements, so as to bring about the noble result of the complete regeneration of twenty-four children infected with the vices inherent in mendicity and is almost inseparable from extreme poverty. He has seldom seen himself obliged to have recourse to the painful system of corporal pu nishment. Slight mortifications, a re monstrance in private and in public, the want of the common repast, the momentary privation of the testimo nies of affection and confidence-these simple methods are found amply suf ficient for the purpose. It is in the nature of such improve. ments to spread slowly. The passing tribute of a barren admiration is all that M. de Fellenberg obtains from the mass of travellers who are brought thither by curiosity. Some attempts are, however, made in Switzerland on the proposed model; but a great impulse, which should result from s powerful and special protection, is still wanting to diffuse abundantly the benefits of this education-to extend to various places, and over fu ture ages, its salutary effects. Descrip An Address delivered to the Inhabitants of NEW LANARK, on the first of January 1816, at the opening of the Institution established for the Formation of Character. By RoBERT OWEN. Second Edition.London, 1816. IN these two pamphlets there is a double object to which our attention is attracted; first, to the arrangements Description of a ROMAN Altar found made by Mr Owen for the imrpove at SPRINGKELL. Extracted from a MS. History of the Antiquities of Dumfriesshire, about to be published, by W. S. IRVING. THE above is a correct representation of a beautiful Roman altar, dug up at Springkell, the elegant villa of Sir J. H. Maxwell, Knight Bart. in Dumfriesshire. This valuable relic of antiquity is about two feet four inches in height, and sixteen by eighteen in the sides. A thuribulum, for burning incense, is finely sculptured on the top; a præferriculum, for sacrifice, upon the one side, and upon the other the inscription exhibited in the annexed plate, and which I leave to the conjecture of the learned antiquarian to decipher. The C I have ventured to supply, as there is a small splice broken off the left corner of the stone, which has also taken away several other letters before the rest of the inscription. This altar was dug up a few days ago, and is now in the possession of the Baronet, at his mansion, on the banks of the Kirtle, near the borders of Scotland. ment and comfort of the manufacturing establishment under his superintendance; next, to a plan thereupon founded, for making the world change its aspect, and for finally eradicating out of it, poverty, vice, and misery. The latter scheme, as it may be supposed well entitled to do, from its superior magnitude, appears to have become the grand and almost undivided object of Mr Owen's attention. This gentleman has discovered the cause of all the evil and misery that exists in society, and the mode by which they may be thoroughly removed.They have arisen it seems "solely from the ignorance of our forefathers," "the world to this day has been grossly wrong, and is at this moment in the depth of ignorance." Men "have been governed, in the most important concerns of life, by mere illusions of the imagination, in, direct opposition to existing facts-the evil was universal-none were in the right path, no not one." All plans for reform in government are entirely futile, not being Mr Owen's; every religion contains more falsehood than truth; 368 Review.--Essays on the Formation of the Human Character. some his alone being purified from all mixture. It seems, the cause which has plunged mankind into such an abyss of calamity, is the belief that man has any influence in forming his own character. By exploding this radical error, and modifying accordingly the belief and conduct of man, the grand renovation is to be effected. The present pamphlet is but the dawning of this great day-there are things for which the world is not quite prepared; but we are encouraged to hope that truth will quickly burst upon us in its meridian blaze. In short, "from this day a change must take place; a new era must commence; the human intellect, thro' the whole extent of the earth, hitherto enveloped in the greatest ignorance and superstition, must begin to be released from its state of darkness." Mr Owen has formed "the resolution of devoting his life to relieve mankind from this mental disease and all its miseries." Through his exertions, "all our evil passions will disappear; no ground of anger or displeasure from one human being towards another will remain; the period of the supposed millennium will commence, and universal love prevail." It seems, that certain evil-disposed persons, on hearing these magnificent predictions, had insinuated some doubts as to the sanity of the intellect from which they emanated. Upon this point Mr Owen broadly states: "the question of insanity between the world and myself will now be decided; either they have been rendered greatly in sane-or I am so." If matters are really come to this alternative, we are afraid we cannot have such an opinion of the whole world, ourselves included, as to decide in favour of Mr Owen; but we incline to think that he has exaggerated the case. We do not mean to follow him into the region of his lofty speculations; because we really think, that if he had not unfortunately soared so high; if, from the regeneration of mankind, and from new-modelling the political and religious system of the universe, he had descended to the consideration of his cotton mills at Lanark ; and if he had given a distinct and detailed account of his efforts to improve the condition of the persons there placed under his care, very considerable edification might have been afforded.From the glimpses which, amid his lofty flights, he sometimes deigns to afford of this subject, there really ap pears much that is good and judicious, and which, we think, if rationally and distinctly explained, might have a great effect in giving a sound direction to that active benevolence, for which the present age is so eminent. It would appear that Mr Owen has watched over the welfare of the members of this establishment with a care truly paternal. He prevented the children from being put to work before the age of ten; he procured for the adults the means of air and exercise; and in a very wise and considerate manner, as a moral remedy, he studied to provide for them rational and innocent amusements. At the same time, by removing temptations, by gentle and friendly persuasion, by all the modes of influence which bis situation afforded, he studied to wean them from those habits of quarrelling, intemperance, and debauchery, to which they had been deeply addicted. He informs us, and appeals to themselves, in a tone of which we cannot doubt the truth, that a very favoura ble change had been effected. This is the point of view in which we would wish to hold out Mr Owen's example to the world. Very import ant good might be done, not by legis lative regulation, or by changing the form of society, but by those who possess the same influence, employing it to promote the same laudable purposes. It appears indeed, that be has not fully realized, even here, the expected millennium; to produce which be Review.--Essays on the Formation of the Human Character. 369 he has formed this new institution “for the formation of character." We were much afraid, considering the state of exaltation to which his brain had attained, that this institution would have lost entirely its sober and practical aspect. However, we really do not see, in the following sketch, any thing which is not very good, and suited to those for whom it was intended: 'This Institution, when all its parts shall be completed, is intended to produce permanently beneficial effects; and instead of longer applying temporary expedients for correcting some of your most prominent external habits, to effect a complete and thorough improvement in the internal as well as external character of the whole village. For this purpose the Institution has been devised, to afford the means of receiving your children at an early age, as soon almost as they can walk. By this means, many of you, mothers of families, will be enabled to earn a better maintenance or support for your children; you will have less care and anxiety about them; while the children will be prevented from acquiring any bad habits, and gradually prepared to learn the best: 'The middle room of the story below will be appropriated to their accommodation; and in this, their chief occupation will be to play and amuse themselves in severe weather: at other times they will be permitted to Occupy the inclosed area before the building; for, to give children a vigorous constitution, they ought to be kept as much as possible in the open As they advance in years, they will be taken into the rooms on the right and left, where they will be reularly instructed in the rudiments of common learning; which, before they hall be six years old, they may be taught in a superior manner. These stages may be called the 1st and 2d preparatory schools; and when your May 1917. children shall have passed thro' them, they will be admitted into this place*, which, with the adjoining apartment, is to be the general school-room for reading, writing, arithmetic, sewing, and knitting; all which, on the plan to be pursued, will be accomplished to a considerable extent by the time the children are ten years old; before which age none of them will be permitted to enter the works. For the benefit of the health and spirits of the children, both boys and girls will be taught to dance, and the boys will be instructed in military exercises: those of each sex who may have good voices will be taught to sing, and those among the boys who have a taste for music will be taught to play upon some instrument; for it is intended to give them as much diversified innocent amusement as the local circumstances of the establishment will admit. 'The rooms to the east and west on the story below will also be appropriated, in bad weather, for relaxation and exercise, during some part of the day, to the children who, in the regular hours of teaching, are to be instructed in these apartments. 'Inthis manner is the Institution to be occupied during the day in winter. In summer it is intended that they shall derive knowledge from a personal examination of the works of nature and of art, by going out frequently with some of their masters into the neighbourhood and country around. After the instruction of the children who are too young to attend the works shall have been finished for the day, the apartments shall be cleaned, ventilated, and in winter lighted and heated, and in all respects made comfortable, for the reception of other classes of the population. The apartments on this floor are then to be appropriated This room is fitted up to serve also as a Chapel. sketch of them may not be unacceptable to our readers. From that narrow stripe of territory situated along the St Laurence, to which we give the name of Upper and Lower Canada, a plain of illimit able extent stretches to the north and north-west, as far as the frozen regions. If the whole population of propriated for the use of the children and youth of both sexes who have been employed at work during the day, and who may wish still further to improve themselves in reading, writing, arithmetic, sewing, or knitting; or to learn any of the useful arts; to instruct them in which, proper masters and mistresses who are appointed will attend for two hours every evening. this vast expanse were collected toThe three lower rooms, which in win- gether, it would not perhaps equal ter will also be well lighted and pro- that of one of our moderate-sized perly heated, will be thrown open for English counties. In the absence of the use of the adult part of the popu- man, however, the track is covered lation, who are to be provided with with elks, deer, beavers, otters, marevery accommodation requisite to en- tens, &c. &c. in swarms of which it able them to read, write, account, is impossible for us to form any consew, or play, converse or walk about. ception. This abundance of the most But strict order and attention to the valuable fur-bearing animals has behappiness of every one of the party come the foundation of an extensive will be enforced, until such habits trade, carried on by a company estabshall be acquired as will render any lished at Montreal, called the Northformal restriction unnecessary; and West Company. The exertions made, the measures thus adopted will soon and privations endured, by their remove such necessity. Two even- agents, appear truly astonishing. It ings in the week will be appropriated is said, that the track by which their to dancing and music; but on these goods are transported, occupies an exoccasions every accommodation will tent of from three to four thousand be prepared for those who prefer to miles, through upwards of sixty large study, or follow any of the occupations lakes, without any means of transport pursued on the other evenings. One but slight canoes of bark. In persons of the apartments will also be occa- engaged in so rough a trade, so far sionally appropriated for the purpose out of the pale of civilized society, of giving useful instruction to the and having to deal with the most saolder class of the inhabitants.' vage of the human race, it would be vain to expect a deportment always quite regular and peaceable. If any illegal act is committed, there is ne redress but from the tribunals at Montreal, placed at the distance of several thousand miles, and to be reached only by a voyage more toilsome and dangerous than that across the Atlantic. In such a case, the remedy most prompt, most convenient, and every way suited to their inclination, is to take the law into their own hands. The introduction of spirits among the Indians is the source of a thousand disorders and vices; and yet it seems difficult to say how we could prevent it. What cordon of II. A Sketch of the British Fur Trade in NORTH AMERICA; with Observations relative to the North-West Company of MONTREAL. By the Earl of SELKIRK. 8vo. London, 1816. A Narrative of Occurrences in the AS the series of transactions to |